Construction of cisterns from concrete



(No Model.) W. B. DORWARD,

' CONSTRUCTION OF CISTERNS PROM CONCRETE.

No. 292,420. n v I Patented Jan.22,1884.

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a time Smarts WILLIAM B. DOBWARI), or MARION, OHIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,420, dated January 22,1884.

Application filed October 10, 1883. (No model.)

To coZZ whom, it 1711514 001202772:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. DORWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing atMarion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oisterns, of which the fol- Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

lowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in cisterns or curbs for cisterns, &c., and has for its object the substitution of amixture of Portland cement, sand, and broken stone as a concrete for the usual brick, where mortar has to be used, or wooden cisterns heretofore inuse, and in building which great difficulty is experienced on account of the ground in. some instances which may be very wet, and which, as a foundation, would be liable to give away; but with concrete this is avoided.

The invention consists in the construction of a wooden adjustable or folding curb, made in sections, around and over which the cistern is made; and to this end the invention also con- "sists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically claimed.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a view of the braces, showing their connections.

' A represents a circular block of wood, upon which the lower end of a square post, B, rests, said post being provided with four flanges or ribs, 72, upon each of its sides, which fit or are mortised within openings in the circular block, the said block and post being further connected by means of a lay-bolt, C, which is run through a hole from the under side of the bottom of the curb, which is let down into the earth.

Upon the post B are a plurality of curbbraces, D, crossing at right angles to each other, the inner ends of which abut against the post B, where they cross and have grooves or gains therein, within which the ribs or flanges b on the post B play, to admit of the adjustment on the post B of thebraces D, and encircling said post.

Between the lower and upper braces D are a series of blocks, E, which serve to steady.

and keep in place said braces D. A series of curbs, F, made in quarter-sections, are secured to the outer ends of these braces D, and have cut in their peripheries flanges or channels, G, and within which are set the lower ends of a series of staves, H. The inner portion of these curbs F are secured to the outer ends of the braces D by means of short iron plates or rods I, or by any suitable fastenings.

Upon each side of the post B are four up-' rights, K, to which the inner ends of the braces D are connected by angle irons k, nailed to each, by which means a more secure fastening is obtained at'these ends of the curbbrace's; The curbs are connected to the staves, when they join or come together, by means of hooks K and staples K The upper end of the post B has a perforated circular block, L, and to this block L is attached, at their lower ends, four short inclined arms, M, by means of pins m, and the upper ends of these arms M pass through slots in a larger circular block or annular ring, N, and are connected thereto by short metallic straps a, by means of nails, or otherwise.

Connected to the ring end and radiating therefrom are a series of ribs, 0, which connect with the upper curb, and, as it were, form an arch or top to the curb heretofore referred to. To this arch is connected, by means of rods P and staples Qf'and resting upon the upper ends of the series of staves, a series of circular pieces of wood, q, arranged concentrically in relation to each other, and arranged only so far as to be in line with the annular ring end, so that an opening may be left for the neck of a sewer-pipe which extends down to said ring end of the inner or ribbed arch, leaving a space between the two arches for the construction of the top of the cistern. The curbs, with their braces D, are slipped over the post B before the lower ring of the arch is put in place, and when the ring is put in place, the braces and curbs arekept in their places as connected or joined together.

The construction and organization of the device now having been described, the operation of constructing the cistern will be necessary. The concrete is mixed in a box, and the sand, gravel, and cement are all mixed up to- IOO gether dry,and then afterward are all mixed up together with water and tempered for use. It is then put between the bank and curb and thoroughly rammed down, so that all the holes in the bank or ground will be solid all around the curb. XV hen the wall is up to the top of the staves, the crown or arch is then put in place. The arch is made in pieces or ribs. \Vhen the arch is ready to be put on, the small ring has a square hole in it to go over the post and rest on the curb-braces at that point. Directly over it is another ring, made in two halves, and is fastened on the under side by 1100 (s, hasps, and staplesone at each joint and on the ring are four short arms incliningly arranged, and fastened on the top and the inside byhinges, so as to keep them in place, and at the bottom by small pins,whieh hold the rings in place until they are removed by the builder. After the ring is adj usted in its place the ribs, &c., are then placed on the ring and down on the upper curb, and also on the staves. This forms a smooth sur face. After the curb is all out, the concreting is all done, and the neck and sewer-pipe in place, the cistern is formed over a mold and left to set and harden. \V hen it is desired take out the curb, reach down through the neck and pull up the small pins out of small ring at the bottom of the short arms. You can then bring the short arms or posts forward and loosen the larger ring, so it can be unhooked and taken out of the hole through the neck. The lower ring can be taken out in the same manner, and also the post.

It will now be observed that the ribs or rafters have a sewer-joint 011 a bevel and hinges on the top to hold it together, and hasps, hooks, and staples to keep it in place, and it will be as strong as the rest of the rafters. The curbs being all out, this rafter is removed by unhooking the hasps on both sides, and it will drop down on the hinges so that it can be pulled both ways-downward and inward. This being out, all the rest will come out easy, and the staves can be taken out without much trouble. As the staves are all wide, beveled 011 the inside,and brought to an edge on the outside, they will not bind after the adjustable curve is all out and the clinchers are all re moved.

The cistern may be given a good coat of Portland-cement wash, to be applied with a whitewash-brush, to leave smooth. The bottom wall and arch should be sprinkled, so as to let the cement harden under water. If it should rain when done with the cistern, let the water on it, because it will harden much harder and quickerand not be liable to crack.

The sun must be kept off the arch while it is being made, as it dries the concrete too fast, and it will crack when the arch is filled in on the top with gravel and rammed down solid.

XVh-at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A (.Olllblllitlll0ll,i11t cistern, of a concrete composed of cement, sand, and broken stone with an adjustable curb and adjustable braces, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The central post, B, resting upon and mortised in the circular block, and provided with the ribs upon each side thereof, in combination with the curb-braces and curbs, substantially as described.

3. The circular block surrounding the upper part of the post and resting upon the curbbraces, and connected with the larger ring at the sewer-neck by means of short arms, as shown, and arched ribs connected with the larger ring at the mouth of the sewer-neck and curb-braces, all arranged as specified.

at. The outer or circular arranged arch, connected to the upper ends of the series of staves, in combination with the flanged curbs connected to the braces, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. A cistern constructed of a concrete composed of cement, sand, and broken stone, the said concrete being held in position until hardened by movable curbs and braces having suitable adjusting means, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix mysignatureiu presence of two witnesses.

- \VILLIAM B. DORW'ARD.

\Vitnesses: GEORGE D. COPELAND, Jon): A. WoLroRn. 

